Hate speech: Andhra Police seek seven-day custody of Owaisi

Nirmal (AP): The Andhra Pradesh Police today sought seven-day custody of MIM legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi after he was remanded in 14-day judicial custody in Adilabad district following his arrest in a "hate speech" case.

Nirmal Police, which is investigating the case, filed a petition in the Nirmal Munsif Magistrate court seeking seven days custodial interrogation of Akbaruddin as part of further probe, Karimnagar Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) R Bhimanayak told PTI.

Akbaruddin Owaisi. PTI

Nirmal town police suo moto booked a case on January 3 against Akbaruddin for his alleged provocative speech under IPC Section 121 (waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the government of India) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, language etc. and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony).

However, police later slapped another five sections of IPC in the remand report today.

After thorough questioning of Akbaruddin by the investigating officer last night at Nirmal town police
station, five additional sections including of 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 124A (sedition), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and section 505 of IPC, were added.

"It was after police inquiry and based on evidence that fresh sections have been added," the DIG said.
After magistrate orders, Akbaruddin was taken to Adilabad district jail, about 80 kms from here, police said.

The FIRs were registered suo moto at Adilabad and Nizamabad districts after the legislator had allegedly used inflammatory and derogatory language against a particular community during his public speeches last month while the Osmania University Police in Hyderabad booked him subsequently following a court directive.

Meanwhile, security was beefed up at Nirmal town and surrounding areas of the court and in other parts of Adilabad district even as unidentified persons pelted stones on OB vans of two news channels.